MDA

Thousands of motorcycles are arriving in Tomahawk and the Northwoods this weekend, as the Muscular Dystrophy Association's Fall Ride is underway.

Bri Lodel is the Executive Director for the Green Bay MDA office. The event is held in Tomahawk which has a Harley-Davidson production facility and the Milwaukee-based motorcycle firm has been a long-time MDA supporter. Lodel says the Fall Ride is the single largest fundraisers for MDA in the Northwoods. She says the money services Northwoods families that are battling a neuromuscular disease.

Wisconsin Transportation officials note August was one of the lowest months for traffic fatalities since World War II.

52 people died last month, equaling a low fatality mark also set in 2009. But a D.O.T. safety official says motorcycles are taking to the roads this fall and pose a challenge for drivers to keep everyone safe. The Tomahawk Fall Ride is this weekend, and thousands of Harley-Davidsons will be in the Northwoods.

The DOT's David Pabst says drivers should remember that motorcycles don't have a large profile so be extra cautious with more of them around...

Members of the Rhinelander Fire Department are hosting their annual Fill the Boot event July 7th through Saturday at the intersection of Stevens and Dwight Street. Firefighters are asking drivers to stop and fill the boot for the Muscular Dystrophy Association to help kids and adults with muscle diseases. Rhinelander firefighter Ryan Berghammer says the MDA makes an effort to help local families with the funds from the Fill the Boot event.

Members of the Rhinelander Fire Department Local #1028 will be hitting the street later this week to raise money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association through the Fill the Boot Campaign. Money that passers-by drop into their boots all goes to fund research and support patients in the Northeastern Wisconsin and U.P, says fundraising coordinator Heather Buchberger. “We do MDA clinics where clients can go see their pulmonologist, physical therapist, and everything for no cost to them," says Buchburger.

The annual Fall Ride is underway in Tomahawk, an effort to raise money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association led by one of it's top contributors, Harley Davidson Motorcycles, with a plant in Tomahawk.

40,000 visitors are expected and the sound of motorcycles across the Northwoods will be heard most of the weekend.

Director Tamra Anderson from the Tomahawk Chamber of Commerce says while all the visitors bring a surge to the local businesses, there is a reason for the ride...